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FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER
Brothers and Sisters of Local 44. I hope you are weathering this slow time of year for many of our outside construction members. As of February 14th, we have 21 Journeyman Linemen on Book 1 and eight on Book 2. On the Operator Books, we have one on Book 3 and one on Book 4. As for Groundman Books, we have two on Book 1, two on Book 2, three on Book 3, and thirteen on Book 4. The Pole Inspection Book currently has one individual signed on. The Tree Trimmer Book also has one individual who has signed. The Gas Operator Books are clear and empty. There are three signed on the Gas Groundman Book 4. So, as you can tell, the work environment is slow and this is typical behavior for this time of year.
We recently finished up negotiations with Marias River Electric Cooperative in Shelby, and I am happy to report we’ve garnered a new 2-year agreement. Our MRE members secured new paid Maternity and Paternity Leave, a substantial increase in FR Clothing monies, new expanded bereavement language, new updated Normal and Seasonal Working Hours, double time for all work performed on Holidays, additional sick leave to care for immediate family members, a respectable LINECO cap increase and other Health Care Fund options, and a fair and reasonable hourly wage increase per year. I would like to recognize our negotiating team members, Ben, Justin and Abbie, for doing an outstanding job communicating to their coworkers and conducting themselves in the utmost professional manner with the MRE Board Members. Thank you guys and job well done!!
Next on our agenda is negotiations with Big Flat Electric Cooperative in Malta. We are currently scheduled to start negotiations on March 1st and 2nd. We are optimistic our session with BFEC will go smoothly as well. More to report later on once we finish up with Big Flat’s management.
In conclusion, please choose to stay diligent and focused on the daily safety of yourself and your coworkers. Choose to be your brother & sisters’ keeper and go home better than when you came to work each day. Choose to give 8 for 8 and never settle for a lesser standard. Choose to hold one another accountable, for excellence, and don’t skimp on providing all of our employers with the highest possible quality of product. After all, it’s what the IBEW stands for and expects from all of us. So, choose to stand out from the rest.
In Solidarity,
Scott Klungland
C: 406-565-6839
E: sklungland@ibew44.org
FROM THE ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER
Nominations for Local 44 Elections are coming soon and they will be taking place at the April Unit Meetings. If anyone is interested in running for a position, you must have a minimum of two years in good standing as a member of Local 44 immediately prior to you being nominated. Good Standing means you have paid dues continuously and are current on your dues. There are a couple of ways to be nominated. First you can attend a meeting in person, nominate yourself or be nominated by someone else, and accept the nomination. If you are nominated by someone you can also respectfully decline the nomination. If you can’t make it to a meeting in person, you may write and sign a letter of nomination acceptance to our Local 44 Office, or have a member hand deliver it to a nomination meeting. President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Business Manager/Financial Secretary, E-Board Units 101/107, 102, 103, 104/105, 106, 108, 111 and Exam Board are the seats that will be available. You may only be nominated for one position, and no member can hold two positions. Also, per the Constitution no apprentice shall be eligible to hold any office. The biggest part of giving everyone a voice and vote is making sure that the Hall has your current mailing address and email as well. Please ask around, if your co-workers aren’t getting this letter, odds are we don’t have their correct address or one at all. Thanks for your help.
This is the time to participate,
Kyle Hintz
POLE YARD INSTRUCTORS
Cody Inabnit is looking for additional NWE apprentice pole yard instructors for the weekend of April 29-30, 2023 in Billings, MT. Any interested individuals can contact Cody directly at (406) 262-3455.
JOURNEYMAN UPGRADES
Local 44 would like to congratulate the following member for achieving Journeyman status:
Jacob Kasinger – Journeyman Lineman
Great job and best wishes for a great career!
RETIRED MEMBERS
Local 44 would like to congratulate the following members who have retired from the trade:
Joe Bullis William “BC” Caffyn
Jan Owens Lee Vandeburgh
Best wishes for a long and happy retirement!
IN MEMORIAM
Local 44 mourns the loss of the following member:
Curtis Pefley – Journeyman Lineman – passed away 2/21/23
Our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.
MEMBERSHIP & EMPLOYER DEVELOPMENT
IBEW Membership is not a spectator sport!
68thLegislative session almost to transmittal.
Thank you to everyone that has contacted legislators voicing their concerns about the right to work bill. Over 450 working Union members showed up in solidarity to show RTW is not a Montana value! The labor lobby thanks everyone who showed up! Only 3 proponents talked in favor of this bad legislation.
Check out the Legislative Action tab on the local’s website. On that page is key contact info for Senate and House leadership, the key committee’s that will affect us. Currently there are 345 scheduled bill hearings over the next 5 days. SB 140, HB 216, SB 343 and HB 448 were attacks on unions, with your help in writing into the committee members on the different hearings and the labor lobby talking with legislators we have been able to get these bills tabled. Without rank-and-file members writing into their legislators this would not be possible
Click the link to find your Montana State Representatives: Montana Legislators.
From last month, if contacting a legislator. A simple email introducing yourself where you live, who you work for, what you do for a living. You also can include what subjects you feel that would impact your life, livelihood and how you would like them to vote on those items. If there is a need for a call-to-action look for notices to go to your email. The next couple of weeks will be very telling of how this session will go. As always, the elected officials do value the responses that they receive from their constituents.
UPDATE: HB 320 the “Move Over Bill” passed out of the house and was heard in Senate Transportation on February 23. The committee held executive action on HB 320 and passed it over to the Senate floor for passage Utility vehicles upon passage and signing by the Governor would make it so vehicles should slow down and move over for utility work being down. Repair, tree trimming, locating any utility work would all have this safeguard afforded to the workers!
You can contact me through my cell phone or submit testimony through an email. Please send that to dwight@ibew44.org.
Brotherhood is NOT a title… It’s a COMMITMENT!
Safety Item: Be mindful and wary of the cold, take care of yourselves out there.
Fraternally,
Dwight Rose
D988003
406-459-3548
dwight@ibew44.org
MARCH UNIT MEETINGS
Great Falls Mar. 06, 2023 6:00 PM Great Falls Labor Temple
Havre Mar. 07, 2023 6:00 PM Elks Lodge
Lewistown Mar. 08, 2023 5:30 PM Fergus Electric
Billings Mar. 09, 2023 5:00 PM NWE Service Center
Helena Mar. 20, 2023 5:00 PM Helena Labor Temple
Bozeman Mar. 21, 2023 5:00 PM Bozeman Labor Temple
Missoula Mar. 22, 2023 6:00 PM Missoula Labor Temple
Butte Mar. 23, 2023 5:30 PM Local 44 Office
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